706 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN'S STATEMENT ON INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM EAST PAKISTAN ON JUNE 17, 1971 Following is Yugoslav Official Spokesman's statement at a weekly press conference held on June 17, 1971. "Yugoslav Government and public are following with great concern the hardships of millions of refugees from East Pakistan in India and therefore we have understanding for the problems and anxiety of the friendly India. In this connection we have noted the statement of Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. We feel that measures should be taken urgently to prevent further exodus and create conditions for the return of refugees to their homes." Finding of political solution in the interest of people of Pakistan would undoubtedly, help to normalize the situation in East Pakistan and eliminate difficulties concerning refugees. Similarly, we feel it is duty of the international community to offer urgent and adequate help for settling this difficult problem. Yugoslav Red Cross has already sent certain aid to the refugees and has issued appeal to public for fresh aid". STATEMENT BY MR. ABBA EBAN, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER, IN THE KNESSET, TEL AVIV-JUNE 23,1971 I welcome the initiative of members of the Knesset to bring to full expression Israel's deep shock at the terrible acts perpetrated by Pakistani Army in East Bengal. It is important and necessary that we should express our sympathy for the sorrows and tribulations of the people of East Bengal and the refugees escaping, hungry and sick, across the Indian border. I welcome this initiative on this important problem. It is difficult to measure precisely the size of the catastrophe which has swept that country, but there is no doubt that this is the largest and most terrible human spectacle on earth at this time. The regime of Yahya Khan has so far prevented foreign observers and journalists from investigating the true situation freely or reporting upon it in public. News of events in East Bengal are therefore drawn largely from eye-witnesses and the stories of refugees, and while the full details of facts are not known, the general picture is as clear as it is terrible. There is a dark and cruel tale of death and destruction, persecution and torture, which has overtaken young and old, men and W{} ՈԴՅՈ. Without elaborating of the long and sorry background to these events, I would not only that ever since Pakistan was established, inhabitants of the Eastern wing have felt discriminated against. The feelings of bitterness and frustration which this maltreatment caused over a long while found expression in the results of the recent elections. The Awami league, the national Party of East Bengal, won a majority. In defiance of generally accepted principles of democratic society. President Yahya Khan rejected the demands of the leader of the Awami League to consider the result of the elections when establishing the Government and determining the internal regime of the Province. In the face of this refusal, the Awami League declared the independence of Bangladesh. The Pakistani Government replied immediately and harshly. Its army, well equipped with
